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Searching for HENRY FREE

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Ernest

Ernest Report 2 Feb 2014 16:49

Quite a long time since I started this thread but to update anyone still checking...
I have traced Henry Free !! He originated in Lincolnshire, and was born in 1848. His parents were Isaac Free (B about 1807 ) and Catherine Durant ( B 1816 ). They lived in Moulton, Lincolnshire and Henry was an ag/lab.
He left the farm and became a railway navvy. He worked on the Settle-Carlisle line and in 1873 married a local Westmoreland girl called Mary Proud. They had a son in 1874 called Thomas Proud Free. Some time shortly afterwards, Mary seems to have left Henry and lived with another railway navvy, Henry Walker, by whom she had another child.
Mary died in 1886 in West Bromwich. Henry moved on and settled with Annie Booth Watson, still working on the railways. They never married. He died in Barnsley in 1899. Annie was destitute and sent the two girls to a childrens' home in Monmouth before taking them back when she married again.
The difficulty with this search was with dates. Henry either had no idea of his date of birth ( he was illiterate ) or lied when he met Annie. The breakthrough was finally made with checks in probate registers where records tied up Henry, Mary and their son. This was confirmed with their marriage certificate.
Many thanks to the community for helping me in the search

E :-)

Kim Annette

Kim Annette Report 2 Feb 2014 20:09

thanks for letting us know... its always good to here what happened with these enquiries...... :-D

Mel Fairy Godmother

Mel Fairy Godmother Report 3 Feb 2014 12:35

Glad you have a result and thanks for letting us know.

Mel